News

Lack of Support for Higher Education Blamed for Higher Student Costs

By: ,
Posted on:

< < Back to

The President of Ohio University’s Faculty Senate blames state government for the increasing student cost of higher education.

Joe McLaughlin told WOUB News that higher tuition and fees at Ohio University and other state-supported college and universities are the result of a lack of support for higher education in Columbus.

“Put quite simply, the commitment to public education is diminishing and the State share of the cost, in percentage terms, is diminishing,” he said.

McLaughin was asked about a report from the U.S. Department of Education showing Ohio University as having the country’s 15th highest net price for a college education. He said there are two alternatives to decreasing support.

“While it is unfortunate that public Universities have had to raise tuition, making it more difficult for students to afford college, universities have to generate money to cover their expenses. We have to charge what it costs and, if the State won’t subsidize as much of that cost, the student unfortunately has to pay.”

Ohio University students pay higher out-of-pocket expenses than most other universities in the country according to the report.

The College Affordability and Transparency Study gives parents and students options of determining the highest overall price or the highest net for a college education at the nation’s public colleges and universities. The net price for a college education includes the annual total costs of tuition, fees, books, room and board minus the average financial aid.

The highest net price was listed as the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, but just four places behind was Ohio’s Miami University, the state’s highest-priced institution. Coming in at number 15 in the country was Ohio University in Athens with a net price of $17,497 cost to the students each year.